Dendrobium speciosum - the Sydney Rock Orchid - grows attached to rocks or to trees. It sometimes forms spectacular displays on remote rock cliffs … in more accessible areas, it is rather prone to poaching by plant collectors!

Would you have guessed that this was a native plant? I might have mistaken it for a garden escapee, due to its similarity to a passionfruit flower! The Red Passionflower is a climber, native to southern NSW and Victoria.

BIRDS

One of Australia’s smallest birds of prey. And hovering like this is how it is most often seen, hunting above grasslands and other open country. It is found throughout Australia, moving into areas with abundant prey … typically mice, lizards or large insects.

Lizards too are reappearing. And it’s interesting to see the Blue-tongue Lizard reports from both Budawang Coast and Coastal Wilderness this month. If you see any large skinks, please add your records to NatureMapr.